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Demon Dukes are capricious, powerful entities that largely reside in their native realms but see Aloria as a playground to entertain themselves with. While any Demon Duke could, in theory, wander into Aloria and lay waste to whole nations by itself, they far more enjoy playing with mortals and inflicting them with anguish or torment. Demon Dukes have released information in the world of Aloria on how to summon them into that world and to confine them to specific rules that allow mortals a degree of safety and a sense of control. These Demons, by nature, reject all sensibilities that some lower Demons might be inclined to, like emotions and empathy, but are far more malicious and skilled at acting the part of a charismatic friend. This page is a sub-page of the Magic and Demonology pages, so please refer back to those pages for navigation.
OOC Notes
Demon Duke Summonings can be performed based on an event request in a Staff Ticket. Demon Dukes will attempt to bargain with Players to achieve what they want, and Dukes will extract something they want in return. While most Events hosted by Staff are aimed to ensure a well-rounded and fair participation for everyone, Demon Duke Summonings are different. Staff members are specifically instructed to try and outsmart players because Demon Dukes will always seek to extract more than they are giving. If the rules of the summoning are violated, or if the Players are not careful, Demon Duke Summonings can and will impart semi-permanent detriments to a Character that is not designed to ruin them but to change how they are played.
Summoning Process
There are two types of summoning: localized summoning and blind summoning. A localized summoning involves a Demon Duke present somewhere in Regalia, for example, haunting a specific location or already bound to a particular area. A localized summoning can only be performed when a DM has indicated that this is an option, and must be performed by creating the summoning circle near where the Demon Duke is inhabited. In any other case, A Demon Duke summoning is a blind summoning, meaning a summoner who wants something done or wants to know something will impart a wish into the Veil for any Demon Duke who is willing to listen to appear in the hopes of getting them to agree to some kind of bargain. It is never possible to summon a specific Demon Duke outside of localized summoning, blind summoning will always result in a random Duke who just so happens to be listening.
Step One: The Summoning Circle
The first step is to produce a summoning circle, which must be made exactly as the image included. It requires a clear center and an outer ring divided into four parts, with strong boundaries. The candles shown in the image are largely aesthetic or symbolic and not required. The other strong requirement is a clear boundary separation between the quadrants and the center. If Players want it to appear more authentic, use Redstone torches to make sure all the Redstone lines are lit up. Having an incomplete summoning circle is considered a failure in the bargain, and will cause the Demon Duke to break containment and demand whatever it wants. The circle also determines the next steps during the summoning.
Step Two: The Roles
During each summoning, there are three types of people present: the summoner(s), the visitor(s), and the spectator(s). Each fulfills a different function during the summoning, but each of them must also follow specific rules. If even one of them breaks the rules, the Demon Duke will take more power in the bargain and be given the authority to demand more from the summoner(s) by imposing things on them that are not part of the bargain.
- Summoners are the people who stand in the center of the summoning circle, usually 1 or 2 people are recommended. The summoner(s) are the only ones directly bargaining with the Demon Duke, as anything they say is carefully scrutinized to see if it contains an accidental question, a name, or identifying information that helps the Demon Duke establish control over them. Summoners must remember the following rules:
- Never reveal their names, as names give power.
- Never ask a question to the Duke that is not part of the bargain, because an added question has a price.
- Never speak to the visitors without looking them in the eye. If this is not done, it will be to the Demon.
- Never acknowledge or interact with the spectators, otherwise it includes them in the summoning.
- Never cross any of the lines, as breaking the summoning circle will give the Demon power.
- Visitors are the people who stand in the secondary quadrants. This can be anywhere from 2 to 8 people, and they primarily exist to support the summoners and try to prod at the Demon for information without being part of the bargain. Visitors are not part of the deal, so they can freely speak with the summoners and the Demon without incurring a higher price, but there are some rules involved.
- Never reveal their names or the names of the summoners.
- Never speak with derision, taunting, aggression, or insult towards the Demon, for its anger has a price.
- Be careful not to entice the summoner to speak without looking at them, as that will cause problems.
- Never acknowledge or interact with the spectators, otherwise it includes them in the summoning.
- Never cross any of the lines, as breaking the summoning circle will give the Demon power.
- Spectators are there to just watch the whole situation take place. The Demon cannot see, feel, or interact with them so long as the summoning circle is not broken, so they are completely and utterly safe as long as the rules are followed. They can say things that the Demon cannot hear but must be careful not to tempt the people in the circle to acknowledge them, as that will violate the summoning circle.
Each of the three types has a role. The summoners are there to make a bargain and set the conditions for what they want, and the visitors are there to try and help the summoners extract a better bargain or create better conditions for the bargain by discovering things about the Demon. Finally, the spectators are there to watch because these events can be quite tense. The summoners are not completely at the mercy of the Demon Duke, there are a couple of ways to gain power over the Demon Duke on their end. They include:
- Name. Naming a Demon Duke is incredibly difficult. It will hide its name as much as possible and see through most implicative questions. Naming a Demon requires extensive knowledge of the Duke Circles and their identities (This page is still being written), but when posed, gives free rein in terms of demanding things from the Demon Duke, as it will be trapped.
- Realm. Naming the realm a Demon comes from (for example, the Anima or the Hollow), will give the summoner power over the Demon. This one can always be discovered and usually relies on the visitors understanding hints of the Demon's personality, behavior, and rhetoric. Demons always behave based on specific quirks of their realm, so a reasonable educated guess can be made, thus granting the summoner power to demand extra things.
Generally, the act of trying to outsmart a Demon Duke should be navigated carefully. Getting their name or realm wrong will increase the price of what the Demon can demand in return, so strategy may be required to tackle this particular facet. Demon Duke Summonings can also go wrong, as someone crossing the summoning circle might have their soul sucked out, and now the summoning is not only for some act that the Demon was requested to do but also to return the lost soul. Demon Dukes will always try to outsmart their summoners, so caution is advised.
Step Three: The Summoning
When the summoning takes place, the utmost attention to detail is required. From the moment the Demon (Staff DM) arrives, they will attempt to extract more and lure the summoner (Player) into a trap of their undoing. Demon Dukes have no mercy or kindness, and though they may mask and speak in ways that are enticing or softhearted, summoners should pay great attention not to become careless or overly confident. Some Mechanics can aid in Demon Duke Summonings or can provide "second chances" when mistakes are made, so it is always worth doing some research before considering doing one. That being said, Duke Summonings are some of the easiest ways to make vast meaningful changes in the world. Demon Dukes are immensely powerful and while they will not be inclined to quickly topple Empires in exchange for paltry offerings, they can leave permanent scars on the map of Regalia, major Characters in the universe, and the player participants who have shown up to these Events.